(Review) word of the day: adore
First graders will have their spelling test tomorrow.
Sam has been resurrected! She's back by popular demand! The second graders have been asking if we could put her back into circulation and I finally relented. (For those of you who don't know, Sam is a stuffed creature who goes home with a different student every night. Whoever takes her home writes a journal entry about the adventures they've shared. [The journal is provided in Sam's travel bag.] We draw names to see who will take Sam home; Matteo was Sam's first host and Michael is her host tonight. Hold your breath for your child's turn!)
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
November 29, 2011
(Review) word of the day: pacific
The first grade class looked at a Lego story this morning. We've added a peek at some Lego Art. Check it out!
The first grade class looked at a Lego story this morning. We've added a peek at some Lego Art. Check it out!
Monday, November 28, 2011
November 28, 2011
(Review) word of the day: ancient
First grade spelling this week concentrates on the "ee" combination. Study hard for Friday's test!
We had our second visit from Baby Arlo today. It's amazing to see how much he's changing already!
Our gym class today was all about group juggling. There are some pretty fantastic athletes in Room 4 again this year!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
November 24, 2011
(Review) word of the day: colossal
Thanks to everyone who sent cookies for our sale today. We raised $85.55 for our foster child fund! Great stuff! The students also got some practise counting quarters (and other coins) and making change - a nice tie-in to math.
Sledding today was great; if there was ever an afternoon to spend at Centennial Park, this was it. The weather was perfect and the new snow made it tons of fun. Let it snow some more!
Grade One students have their "Jail Words" spelling test tomorrow.
Remember that tomorrow is Pyjama Day. Students are invited (but not required) to wear their PJs to school - and to bring along a cuddly if they'd like.
There will be a noon dismissal for students tomorrow.
Thanks to everyone who sent cookies for our sale today. We raised $85.55 for our foster child fund! Great stuff! The students also got some practise counting quarters (and other coins) and making change - a nice tie-in to math.
Sledding today was great; if there was ever an afternoon to spend at Centennial Park, this was it. The weather was perfect and the new snow made it tons of fun. Let it snow some more!
Grade One students have their "Jail Words" spelling test tomorrow.
Remember that tomorrow is Pyjama Day. Students are invited (but not required) to wear their PJs to school - and to bring along a cuddly if they'd like.
There will be a noon dismissal for students tomorrow.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
November 23, 2011
Word of the day: futile
Reminders for tomorrow:
1. Cookie sale. Thanks in advance for sending baking for this!
2. Sledding in the afternoon. We will leave the school around 2:00 and will return before the final bell. Please send appropriate clothing for your child, something to slide on (if possible) and a downhill ski helmet. (The school has helmets to borrow if your child doesn't have one.)
3. Book orders are due this Friday.
4. There will be a Pyjama Day this Friday. Students are invited (but not required) to come to school in their jammies, slippers, bathrobes ... whatever their bedtime attire is. Cuddlies are welcome for this event, as well!
5. There will be a noon dismissal this Friday.
6. First graders: keep up the Golden Envelope reading!
Reminders for tomorrow:
1. Cookie sale. Thanks in advance for sending baking for this!
2. Sledding in the afternoon. We will leave the school around 2:00 and will return before the final bell. Please send appropriate clothing for your child, something to slide on (if possible) and a downhill ski helmet. (The school has helmets to borrow if your child doesn't have one.)
3. Book orders are due this Friday.
4. There will be a Pyjama Day this Friday. Students are invited (but not required) to come to school in their jammies, slippers, bathrobes ... whatever their bedtime attire is. Cuddlies are welcome for this event, as well!
5. There will be a noon dismissal this Friday.
6. First graders: keep up the Golden Envelope reading!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
November 22, 2011
Word of the day: veruca
Grade Two report cards went home today. Sorry about the mix-up yesterday.
First grade students are bringing home their "How I Wonder" readers. They can choose a story from this to read aloud - with parental help, if needed!
First grade students should spend some time on the "Starfall" link on the side - practising reading the short phonetic stories.
Our Christmas concert date has been set. Our Grade 1/2 class will perform on Wednesday night, December 14th. Let the theatrics begin!
Second graders started a typing program today. They worked very well on this!
Grade Two report cards went home today. Sorry about the mix-up yesterday.
First grade students are bringing home their "How I Wonder" readers. They can choose a story from this to read aloud - with parental help, if needed!
First grade students should spend some time on the "Starfall" link on the side - practising reading the short phonetic stories.
Our Christmas concert date has been set. Our Grade 1/2 class will perform on Wednesday night, December 14th. Let the theatrics begin!
Second graders started a typing program today. They worked very well on this!
Monday, November 21, 2011
November 21, 2011
Word of the day: octagon
Report cards went home today. Please keep the report card but return the comment sheet and the envelope tomorrow. Thanks. I'll be setting up interview times with first grade parents tomorrow. I will not be requesting interviews with second grade parents but would be happy to meet any second grade parents who feel they need an interview with me.
Book orders went home today and are due this Friday.
The first grade spelling list this week is from our "Jail Words". These are words that break phonetic rules, like the Silent E rule, which says that when there is a word with a vowel (a,e,i,o or u) followed by a consonant (all the letters that are not vowels!), and then an "e", the "e" makes the vowel say its own name. For example, "pin" becomes "pine" and "mat" becomes "mate". Words like "some, come, have" don't follow this rule, so we throw them in jail. Similarly, we have a rule that says, "When 2 vowels go walking, the first one does the talking and it says its own name." "Said" and "great" break this rule; we don't say "sayed" or "greet" for those words.
It's our turn to host a cookie sale! This is a great time to learn about organizing, advertising, selling, cleaning up, and counting money. Funds raised support our school's charities. Thanks in advance for sending 2 dozen cookies (or rice krispie squares, or cupcakes, or ...) this Thursday morning for our sale.
Report cards went home today. Please keep the report card but return the comment sheet and the envelope tomorrow. Thanks. I'll be setting up interview times with first grade parents tomorrow. I will not be requesting interviews with second grade parents but would be happy to meet any second grade parents who feel they need an interview with me.
Book orders went home today and are due this Friday.
The first grade spelling list this week is from our "Jail Words". These are words that break phonetic rules, like the Silent E rule, which says that when there is a word with a vowel (a,e,i,o or u) followed by a consonant (all the letters that are not vowels!), and then an "e", the "e" makes the vowel say its own name. For example, "pin" becomes "pine" and "mat" becomes "mate". Words like "some, come, have" don't follow this rule, so we throw them in jail. Similarly, we have a rule that says, "When 2 vowels go walking, the first one does the talking and it says its own name." "Said" and "great" break this rule; we don't say "sayed" or "greet" for those words.
It's our turn to host a cookie sale! This is a great time to learn about organizing, advertising, selling, cleaning up, and counting money. Funds raised support our school's charities. Thanks in advance for sending 2 dozen cookies (or rice krispie squares, or cupcakes, or ...) this Thursday morning for our sale.
Friday, November 18, 2011
November 18, 2011
Word of the day: elusive
The first grade students were given 2 books today as part of the TD bank's support of an intiative to promote reading. As well, there was a stack of books left over from giveaways from previous years so I snagged 2 more books for each student. The books are theirs to keep - enjoy the additions to your home libraries!
The golden envelopes are taking a rest for the weekend and will get back in circulation Monday.
The first grade students were given 2 books today as part of the TD bank's support of an intiative to promote reading. As well, there was a stack of books left over from giveaways from previous years so I snagged 2 more books for each student. The books are theirs to keep - enjoy the additions to your home libraries!
The golden envelopes are taking a rest for the weekend and will get back in circulation Monday.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
November 16, 2011
Word of the day: adore
The golden envelope book today is meant to reinforce the short 'e' sound - and to complement the spelling list for this week. Enjoy!
Some of the students are really flying in first grade math and are on to counting money. We've been working on sorting coins, recognizing their values, counting multiples of the same coins, and trading coins - 2 nickels for a dime, 5 nickels for a quarter, etc.
Swimming is on again tomorrow. Remember to send warm hats for the apres-pool time.
The golden envelope book today is meant to reinforce the short 'e' sound - and to complement the spelling list for this week. Enjoy!
Some of the students are really flying in first grade math and are on to counting money. We've been working on sorting coins, recognizing their values, counting multiples of the same coins, and trading coins - 2 nickels for a dime, 5 nickels for a quarter, etc.
Swimming is on again tomorrow. Remember to send warm hats for the apres-pool time.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
November 15, 2011
Word of the day: pacific
Swimming is on again tomorrow afternoon.
We talked about the King Midas fairy tale today and the students came up with some alternatives to a "Golden Touch". Their ideas were great! Stay tuned for a bulletin board display!
We kept the first graders' golden envelopes at school today, as we ran out of time to start a new story. We'll get back on track with this tomorrow.
Quite a few of the first graders can count to 100 perfectly now - by ones, twos, fives and tens. As well, almost everyone can correctly count backward from 20, can correctly plug missing numbers into a sequence like 64 __ 66, and can accurately read and print the numbers to 100, beginning at random points. Everyone demonstrates a good understanding of adding and subtracting concepts and can apply them in problem solving. We've even started counting money - tackling nickels has been our first job. This class is moving right along in the math department.
Monday, November 14, 2011
November 14, 2011
Word of the day: ancient
Remember we will be swimming all week!
One of the units our science units is titled "Colour". We were discussing ways that animals or plants use colour to their advantage. One way that animals use colour is through camouflage. We thought that some of these Liu Bolin photos were a good use of human camouflage! There are more photos here as well. This guy is good!
Remember we will be swimming all week!
One of the units our science units is titled "Colour". We were discussing ways that animals or plants use colour to their advantage. One way that animals use colour is through camouflage. We thought that some of these Liu Bolin photos were a good use of human camouflage! There are more photos here as well. This guy is good!
November 14, 2011
Just a quick early morning reminder, in case anyone is checking this coooold morning: we start swimming lessons this afternoon. Students will need swim gear and some warm outerwear (especially a hat!) for after the lessons.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
November 9, 2011
Word of the day: colossal
First graders have a spelling test tomorrow. Practise those "ing", "ang" and "ong" combos!
There will be a noon dismissal for students tomorrow.
We start our swim lessons next week. Please send swim gear and a warm hat to wear post-pool sessions. We'll be at the Aquatic Centre every afternoon. Lessons will run from 2:30 - 3:00, so some parents might like to pick their children up from the pool. If parents are not at the pool to meet their child(ren), we'll walk back to the school and dismiss from there.
We're still waiting for a few more Roots of Empathy forms and one or two more address forms...
First graders have a spelling test tomorrow. Practise those "ing", "ang" and "ong" combos!
There will be a noon dismissal for students tomorrow.
We start our swim lessons next week. Please send swim gear and a warm hat to wear post-pool sessions. We'll be at the Aquatic Centre every afternoon. Lessons will run from 2:30 - 3:00, so some parents might like to pick their children up from the pool. If parents are not at the pool to meet their child(ren), we'll walk back to the school and dismiss from there.
We're still waiting for a few more Roots of Empathy forms and one or two more address forms...
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
November 8, 2011
(Review) word of the day: nefarious
Thanks to everyone who sent back address and Roots of Empathy forms. We'd like to get all these forms in before the weekend, if possible, so please try to get yours in asap, if you haven't already done so.
I'm wondering if anyone out there is available to help out prepping an art project for our class. The pay is awful, but you'll get a really nice feeling - and lots of appreciation - for helping!
Thanks to everyone who sent back address and Roots of Empathy forms. We'd like to get all these forms in before the weekend, if possible, so please try to get yours in asap, if you haven't already done so.
I'm wondering if anyone out there is available to help out prepping an art project for our class. The pay is awful, but you'll get a really nice feeling - and lots of appreciation - for helping!
Monday, November 7, 2011
November 7, 2011
(Review) word of the day: frequent
We met our lovely Roots of Empathy baby today. Baby Arlo is a delight!!!!!
Reminders for tomorrow:
Notes need to be singed and returned. (One of the notes - the Roots of Empathy one - went home Friday. THanks to those who've already returned those notes.)
We met our lovely Roots of Empathy baby today. Baby Arlo is a delight!!!!!
Reminders for tomorrow:
Notes need to be singed and returned. (One of the notes - the Roots of Empathy one - went home Friday. THanks to those who've already returned those notes.)
Thursday, November 3, 2011
November 3, 2011
(Review) word of the day: subtle
First graders' homework:
1. Study for tomorrow's "ing" spelling test.
2. Read the "Golden Envelope" book and have your parents record the book's title and today's date.
Our class will be participating in a "Roots of Empathy" program this year. Leslie Dolan will be delivering the program. She made her initial visit to the class today and gave us some background information about what she'll be doing. Basically, the program is designed to teach children about feelings (both their own and the feelings of others) and to develop empathy. The program uses a real live baby(!) to help teach its points. This year we're really lucky to have Baby Arlo and his parents participate in the program. Arlo and his parent(s) will visit the class once every 3 weeks and, under Leslie's expert guidance, we'll all develop our empathetic souls! More details will be sent home in a letter tomorrow - stay tuned!
First graders' homework:
1. Study for tomorrow's "ing" spelling test.
2. Read the "Golden Envelope" book and have your parents record the book's title and today's date.
Our class will be participating in a "Roots of Empathy" program this year. Leslie Dolan will be delivering the program. She made her initial visit to the class today and gave us some background information about what she'll be doing. Basically, the program is designed to teach children about feelings (both their own and the feelings of others) and to develop empathy. The program uses a real live baby(!) to help teach its points. This year we're really lucky to have Baby Arlo and his parents participate in the program. Arlo and his parent(s) will visit the class once every 3 weeks and, under Leslie's expert guidance, we'll all develop our empathetic souls! More details will be sent home in a letter tomorrow - stay tuned!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
November 2, 2011
(Review) word of the day: gullible
First grade students, remember to read to your parents and have them sign the Golden Envelope log sheet! Also, practise those "ing" spelling words!
I just noticed that yesterday's posting didn't show up on the blog. Sorry about that. I'm not sure what happened. Let's dig into my memory bank and see if I can remember what I wrote about.
I wrote about the first grade's golden envelope reading: a book will be sent home daily. Students are supposed to read the books aloud to an adult in the household, then the adult writes the book's title and the date it was read on the sheet taped to the golden envelope. This reading program really solidifies and accelerates the students' reading - and, consequently, has a positive impact on all their academics. Thanks in advance for everyone's support for this!
I also reminded parents that students should not bring Hallowe'en candy for recess snacks; this is consistent with our school's support of healthy eating.
I'm pretty sure I mentioned that the newsletter went home and that it shows our class will be hosting a cookie sale on Thursday, November 24th. Everyone will be asked to prepare 2 dozen of their kitchen's finest: cookies, cupcakes, rice krispie squares ... whatever tempts your culinary imagination. We'll set up little committees (advertising, preparation of selling booths, sales, clean-up, counting money) so the students will see the "behind the scenes" part of fund-raising. (Money raised suppports our school's Plan Canada foster child.) I'll send a note home closer to the sale to remind people of it.
Finally, I wanted to reminde people to sign and return the swim forms asap. We're only waiting for 3 more to come back! Thanks!
First grade students, remember to read to your parents and have them sign the Golden Envelope log sheet! Also, practise those "ing" spelling words!
I just noticed that yesterday's posting didn't show up on the blog. Sorry about that. I'm not sure what happened. Let's dig into my memory bank and see if I can remember what I wrote about.
I wrote about the first grade's golden envelope reading: a book will be sent home daily. Students are supposed to read the books aloud to an adult in the household, then the adult writes the book's title and the date it was read on the sheet taped to the golden envelope. This reading program really solidifies and accelerates the students' reading - and, consequently, has a positive impact on all their academics. Thanks in advance for everyone's support for this!
I also reminded parents that students should not bring Hallowe'en candy for recess snacks; this is consistent with our school's support of healthy eating.
I'm pretty sure I mentioned that the newsletter went home and that it shows our class will be hosting a cookie sale on Thursday, November 24th. Everyone will be asked to prepare 2 dozen of their kitchen's finest: cookies, cupcakes, rice krispie squares ... whatever tempts your culinary imagination. We'll set up little committees (advertising, preparation of selling booths, sales, clean-up, counting money) so the students will see the "behind the scenes" part of fund-raising. (Money raised suppports our school's Plan Canada foster child.) I'll send a note home closer to the sale to remind people of it.
Finally, I wanted to reminde people to sign and return the swim forms asap. We're only waiting for 3 more to come back! Thanks!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)